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Creative Process, Dairy Free, Food, Gluten Free, Life, Lunch, Paleo, Pantone, Soups, Spring, Vegan, Vegetarian

SPICED STRAWBERRY WATERMELON GAZPACHO

The grass is green, the trees are blossoming (finally!) and I think that’s cause for celebration! If you’re looking to treat your taste buds to something refreshing after what was quite possibly the longest winter in Canadian history, embrace spring’s bountiful produce with my Spiced Strawberry Watermelon Gazpacho. This pretty, pink (yep, still riding that Spring 2017 Pantone Fashion Color Report wave), chilled soup is the perfect menu addition for your next spring soirée, baby or bridal shower, or anytime you’re hosting your girlfriends and want something fuss free, fresh and festive!

My Spiced Strawberry Watermelon Gazpacho is so simple, I almost can’t call it a recipe — but I’ve been meaning to publish this one since last summer! I popped over to Blushlane (a new organic market that just opened in my neighbourhood) on Friday and was so inspired by the beautiful strawberries, basil (I picked up a gorgeous basil plant… let’s hope I don’t kill it!) and mini watermelon that I knew I had to channel them into this recipe. With just 10 ingredients (seasonings and garnish included!) this fruity spin on traditional gazpacho comes together in just 10 minutes! So grab a delicious glass of rosé (I’m enjoying a Spanish Rioja!) and kick back with me tonight for the details on this modern, seasonal spin on a classic Spanish dish while I catch you up on a few cool things that have been happening the scenes lately — I can’t share a lot right now, but if you followed along with my Insta Stories last week, you may have an idea!

May 15, 2017 by Justine

Dinner, Food, Gluten Free, Paleo, Spring, Vegan, Vegetarian

ROASTED PURPLE CAULIFLOWER WITH RED PEPPER ROMESCO (WILD ROSE D-TOX FRIENDLY!)

I’ve been testing this recipe since December — and it feels so good to finally publish it! Typically I go through 3 – 5 rounds of recipe testing and for my Roasted Purple Cauliflower with Red Pepper Romesco, the fourth time was the charm. If you’ve been following along on my socials, you may know that I had an unfortunate accident with a new kitchen knife on Easter Monday, sliced my index finger and wound up in the ER. Ironically, I was recipe testing. I’ll save you all the gory details because this is a food post after all, but long story short — I ended up with 5 stitches, one very sore finger, minimal nerve damage and a mild reaction to a Tetanus shot that left me with a rash all over my upper body (it’s been a rough couple of weeks!). So if it’s seemed a bit quiet around here, that’s why. It was such a struggle to do pretty much everything during the first week while I was healing up, but my stitches came out Thursday and I’m on the mend. The whole thing was pretty scary and I’m just incredibly grateful it wasn’t any worse! Thank you for all your well wishes and your patience as I attempted to navigate through life at a slower pace these past couple of weeks.

Now, onward and upward! After a week of being terrified to use my kitchen knife and not being able to actually wield it to chop anything, we decided to start the Wild Rose D-Tox on Monday. This is my 6th time doing it over the years and it’s not that much different than my regular, plant based diet — minus anything fermented (yes, that includes alcohol!), tropical fruit and the occasional indulgence. I like to think of it as spring cleaning for my system — and one that was definitely needed after feeling so out of whack last week with my Tetanus shot, taking painkillers (I prefer not to take medication unless absolutely necessary — we didn’t even have any Ibuprofen in the house!) and having to resort to a lot of frozen leftovers (thankfully, my recipe testing process affords a well stocked freezer!). Fast forward to late this week and I finally got my groove back — I was happy to be the kitchen again and feeling inspired! I used this past week as an opportunity to slow down and really focus on what I’m putting in my body to help it heal. I perfected my Roasted Purple Cauliflower with Red Pepper Romesco yesterday and I’m happy to report that it’s completely Wild Rose D-Tox friendly — I can’t wait to share it with you!

April 29, 2017 by Justine

Travel Guide | Vancouver | American Tourister iLite Max Spinner Medium | Purple // JustineCelina.com

Fashion, Food, Jewelry, Life, Sponsored, Spring, Travel, Wine & Cocktails, Winter

VANCOUVER TRAVEL GUIDE

I spent a few days in the Vancouver area last month — and today I’ve partnered with American Tourister to share my first ever TRAVEL GUIDE here at JustineCelina! I’ve traveled with Samsonite luggage for many years, so when their sister brand American Tourister got in touch last month, I jumped at the opportunity to test drive a piece of luggage from the range. This fun iLite Max 25″ Spinner was the perfect travel companion on this whirlwind trip to the west coast!

Anytime I visit a new destination, I’m asked for my list of must sees and do’s from the area and have always compiled a list of recommendations — ready to send out for anyone who requests one. Since I’m asked for these recommendations often, in 2017 I’ll be sharing this type of content here at JustineCelina, embracing the opportunity to make my TRAVEL GUIDES more comprehensive and easily accessible. See the Vancouver area through my eyes today as I share packing tips and trip highlights — including my favourite neighborhoods, restaurants, coffee shops, wine and spirit recommendations, shopping hotspots, off the beaten path locales, quirky boutiques and a day trip to the island (I’m even taking you along to a cookbook launch!). If you’re looking to temporarily satisfy a case of wanderlust or are simply craving a change of scenery, come along as we venture to Canada’s west coast in style with Samsonite!

April 13, 2017 by Justine

Entertain, Flowers, Spring, Travel, Vegetarian, Wine & Cocktails

COASTAL ORANGE BLOSSOM GIN COCKTAIL

It’s the first Friday of spring, so my food blogger friends and I thought it was the perfect occasion to celebrate! Today I couldn’t be more excited to bring you the Spring Edition of Connecting Over Cocktails where I’ve teamed up with 7 talented food bloggers across North America to showcase a plethora of floral flavours in cocktail form. If you’re looking for innovative cocktail ideas as we spring forward, you’ve come to the right place — just scroll down to the bottom of this post to see what my fellow Food Bloggers of Canada members whipped up for you this weekend!

I’m embracing this beautiful new season here at JustineCelina with my Coastal Orange Blossom Gin Cocktail — inspired by my recent trip to the west coast. Delicate and ultra mellow, this refreshing spring sipper features small batch, hand harvested, artisanal gin from Canada’s Vancouver island complimented by a fusion of orange blossom water and hydrating coconut water, finished with a splash of fresh orange juice. With just 4 ingredients, this elegantly understated gin cocktail is simple to prepare, but sure to impress. My Coastal Orange Blossom Gin Cocktails would be the perfect accompaniment to a light spring lunch, garden party, birthday party or shower. If you’re in the mood for something lighthearted this Friday afternoon, settle in for this ultra floral, spring inspired recipe!

March 24, 2017 by Justine

Business, Create, Creative Process, Dwell, Goals, Inspiration, Life, Occasions, Wellness, Wine & Cocktails

MY 2ND BLOGIVERSARY + 10 THINGS I LEARNED IN MY SECOND YEAR OF BLOGGING

Today’s post has literally been 1 year in the making! March 2, 2017 marked my 2nd Blogiversary. Can you believe it? So here we are — just over 2 years, 218 blog posts, 400 000 views, 100 000 images and 2 000 comments later, I’m sharing my My 2nd Blogiversary + 10 Things I Learned in my Second Year of Blogging!

Part of the reason I love blogging is that I have bookmarks into specific time periods of my life (albeit, a small portion of it). It’s so interesting to look back and reflect on where I was 1 year ago versus where I am now. Today’s post is different than last years Blogiversary celebration — because I’m different. This is a quite an introspective, raw post set to the theme of growth and change, which is also my overarching theme for March to welcome spring. This year, I wanted my Blogiversary to feel exactly how it would if we just hanging out as friends, sharing a glass of wine and having a conversation about the last year of this crazy journey of mine. It’s not the shiny production that last year’s post was — and it feels just right. Relaxed, casual, and simply more me at this specific moment (just as last year’s post felt like me at that specific moment). I hope you enjoy my Pantone Greenery inspired 2nd Blogiversary + 10 Things I Learned in my Second Year of Blogging post, in collaboration with my friend Rebecca Dawn Design!

March 21, 2017 by Justine

Breakfast, Dairy Free, Food, Gluten Free, Pantone, Smoothies & Juices, Spring, Vegan, Vegetarian

BANANA WALNUT GREEN SMOOTHIE BOWL

I don’t know about you, but with March dancing on the horizon I’m so over winter. Today I decided to bring spring to JustineCelina a bit early with a Pantone Inspired Banana Walnut Green Smoothie Bowl! I’ve been on a mission to simplify, streamline and organize my life this year in an attempt to cultivate more balance — and that’s definitely trickled into my diet as well. Although I tend to favour simple, seasonal recipes packed full of awesome, fresh ingredients, I’ve found myself especially drawn to culinary minimalism (did you catch my Blood Orange Creamsicle Mimosas!?). This beautiful bowl of plant based goodness comes together with just 6 superfood ingredients and is brimming with ultra nourishing, hearty healthy, skin helping, brain boosting, anti aging benefits! It’s the ultimate beauty food.

Although I love smoothies, I was feeling a bit uninspired about drinking them from a mason jar as of late. So, I reignited my passion for smoothies by enjoying them bowl style — decked out with delicious, fresh toppings (hey, we eat with our eyes first, right?)! My Pantone Inspired Banana Walnut Green Smoothie Bowl is packed with plant based protein (read: no prepackaged protein powder necessary!) thanks to a healthy dose of walnuts and a protein rich nut milk. This bowl’s vibrant green hue is courtesy of tender baby spinach — with a natural, creamy sweetness thanks to bananas, powerhouse medjool dates and fresh vanilla bean. It seriously tastes like dessert, but you can eat it for breakfast!

February 27, 2017 by Justine

Occasions, Wine & Cocktails, Winter

BLOOD ORANGE CREAMSICLE MIMOSAS

Are you searching for a stowstopping cocktail to complete your Valentine’s Day menu? Well, my friends, you’ve come to the right place — because today I’m sharing the recipe for these gorgeous Blood Orange Creamsicle Mimosas! With just 3 ingredients (and a big wow factor), these elegant cocktails combine vibrant, freshly squeezed blood orange juice and Spanish Cava with a hit of creamy vanilla liqueur for an elevated, seasonal twist on the classic mimosa!

Whether you’re spending Valentine’s Day with that special someone, celebrating Galentine’s style with your favourite ladies or savouring some quality solo downtime, my Blood Orange Creamsicle Mimosas are the perfect love day elixir. Enjoy them over brunch, après dinner, during a candlelit bath or anytime you want to indulge in the beautiful flavour of blood oranges complimented by a healthy dose of bubbles. Simplicity really is the ultimate sophistication — cheers to love, friends and delicious sparkling cocktails!

February 12, 2017 by Justine

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